Abstract
Every child is our potential future “National Hero”, provided that is born in a healthy
and hygienic environment and in a progressive and supportive state, community, family.
Majority of infants born in Pakistan today face the risk of premature death. Moreover,
low birth weight due to the mothers’ insufficient diet is a common factor amongst one
third of these casualties. Hence, this study attempts to explore the prevalence of two
factors that is low intake during pregnancy and low birth weight between the less than
one year olds and their subsequent mortality during their first month of life. This study
was cross sectional in nature and conducted in Peri-urban areas of district Malir,
Karachi, Pakistan. Infants under one year of age were included and accidental/injury
related cases were excluded. Furthermore, the study instrument involved administration
of a structured questionnaire as a data tool. Data was analyzed through using SPSS
version 15.0. The result revealed an incidence of a total 259 deaths occurring in infants
of less than one year of age. There was a strong relationship between one year old
infants’ birth weight and their mothers’ age (P = 0.05). Proportions of deaths due to low
nutritional intake of the mothers during pregnancy were high in low birth weight as
compared to normal birth weight (P=0.05). It was concluded that low intake during
pregnancy increased the risk of low birth weight, which consequently contributed
towards infants’ mortality. Hence, a larger proportion of death occurred during the
neonatal period.
Saima Baig, M. Fakhrul-Huda-Siddiqui. (2013) THE ROLE OF PRENATAL LOW INTAKE AND LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AMONG DECEASED INFANT , Journal of Social Science and Humanities, Volume 52, Issue 2.
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